Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is
scheduled to make a keynote address today at the Mobile World
Congress (MWC) to announce its next generation mobile operating
system. While that keynote address is still roughly two hours away,
shots of the Windows Mobile 7 interface have leaked onto the web.

Engadget
was able to score some images of the interface courtesy
of learnbemobile. Interestingly, the shots were gleamed
from banners posted on the walls in the convention center.

From the shots available, we can see
that Microsoft has taken a very simplified approach to what appears
to be the main home screen for the operating system. Whereas the
iPhone
OS is littered with icons on its home page (twenty icons
including four on the dock for Phone, Mail, Safari, and iPod),
Windows Phone 7 Series has icons for Phone, Text Messaging, Email,
Facebook, Pictures, Xbox Live, and "Me".

The unannounced phone itself appears to
have a Home button which is flanked by a "Back" button and
what appears to be a "Search" button.

Stay tuned as we bring you more detail
on Microsoft's latest initiative to battle the iPhone OS and Android.

"Spreading the rumors, it's very easy because the people who write about Apple want that story, and you can claim its credible because you spoke to someone at Apple." -- Investment guru Jim Cramer